Israel Transport תחבורה בישראל

Free Parking for Tel Aviv Residents

2012-02-07T12:42:00.000+02:00

The Tel Aviv Municipality is planning to change to the cost of on street parking charges and will allow free parking anywhere in the city for its residents, while increasing the cost of parking for non-residents from 4.50 Shekels an hour to 5 Shekels an hour, according to Haaretz. The plan is yet to be approved by the City Council or Transport Ministry.

Tel Aviv to Eilat Railway approved by Israeli Government

2012-02-06T01:15:00.000+02:00

The Israeli Government has approved the construction of a high speed railway line between Eilat and Tel Aviv.

The planned 350km railway line which will connect the ports of Tel Aviv and Eilat will provide a new alternative route for shipping cargo between Europe and Asia, with a promised journey time between the two cities of approximately 2 hours.

The expected cost of construction of the two track railway line is 8.6 billion Shekels.

The Government decision will see a committee set up to be chaired by Harel Locker the Prime Minister's Director General to consider how the railway line should be built, either through public funding, private funding or an agreement with another Government. The preferred option of the Transport Ministry is for the railway to be developed in conjunction with the Chinese.

The railway will not be completed until at least 2018.

Tel Aviv to Eilat Railway to be approved by Government in Israel

2012-01-26T12:29:00.000+02:00

Israel National News is reporting that Israel's Government is expected to next week approve the proposed train line between Eilat and Tel Aviv.

It is expected that the railway line, which has an estimated budget of over 7 billion Shekels, will either be a national project, built by a private franchisee or developed in collaboration with China.

It is understood that a collaboration with China is the preferred option of Israel's Transport Ministry, where a Chinese Government company would construct the railway.

Once complete the railway would allow journeys between Tel Aviv and Eilat in just over two hours.

Is the Rav Kav Smart Card infringing on Human Rights in Israel?

2012-01-24T12:39:00.000+02:00

Is the Rav Kav Smart Card infringing on Human Rights in Israel?

The new Rav-Kav smart card now required to be used by public transport users in Israel may infringe the human rights of passengers, Haaretz is reporting. Human rights are concerned that the Transport Ministry in Israel may be infringing the privacy of bus passengers in Israel by requiring passengers to provide personal details to receive the card including a photograph, name, age, address and identity card number.

When all the personal information is collated in the database together with the travel patterns of passengers, questions may be raised about the protection of the rights of passengers using the Rav Kav cards. There are currently half a million Rav Kav cards in use in Israel. Human Rights groups are therefore calling for guideline to be put in place to protect the information of public transport users.

Soldiers banned from using trains during the Sunday Morning Rush Hour, Road 1 into Jerusalem to be widened

2012-01-23T12:52:00.000+02:00

Soldiers banned from using trains during the Sunday Morning Rush Hour

In order to save the IDF money and to relieve the heavy crowding on Israel’s trains on Sunday mornings, when thousands of soldiers use the rail lines to return to their bases after weekends off, soldiers were yesterday banned for the first time from using Israel Railways between 6am and 9am on Sunday mornings. Instead soldiers are being encouraged to use 'free army buses' which are running from train stations.

What are your views on this, did it make your journey better? Are your a soldier that is suffering from this new policy? Leave a comment.

Road 1 into Jerusalem to be widened

Following the initial Government approval in April 2011, Haaretz has reported that the Supreme Court has given the go-ahead to the project, by rejecting complaints into the construction of the wider and improved road leading into Jerusalem

The construction is likely to take four years to complete, which will see new bridges and tunnels built to make the journey into and out of Jerusalem easier and quicker, by removing many of the steep hills and sharp corners between Shar Hagai and the entrance to Jerusalem.

New Bus Routes in Jerusalem begin tomorrow (Friday 13 January 2012)

2012-01-12T12:25:00.000+02:00

Following the introduction of the Light Rail Line in Jerusalem last year, bus routes will start to be overhauled in Jerusalem from Friday 13th January 2012.

The bus network will see a number of changes over future months with the existing routes travelling through many neighbourhoods being replaced by shorter . These new routes will aim to bring residents from suburban neighbourhoods within Jerusalem to connection stops either on the Light Rail Line or the Rapid Bus Transport Routes, with an increasing number of transfers involved for passengers' journeys.

The changes to the first set of 22 bus routes will begin from 13th January 2012 in south west Jerusalem and should see fewer buses using the congested Agripas Street.

Map Showing the new bus routes and connections to the Light Rail.

The Transport Ministry in Israel has announced the following new routes.

Full details of changes can be found at the Jerusalem Transport website.

Route 5 (Ramat Hakerem - Homot Shemuel) - This bus route will be connect to the Light Rail Line at Yaffa Noph and will not go through the Central Bus Station.
Route 9 ( Central Bus Station - Givat Ram) - This will be rerouted to go through Givat Moshe and the Government Complex.
Route 12 (East Talpiot - Hadassah Ein Kerem) - This will go via the Patt Junction.
Route 13 ( Talpiot Industrial Zone - Katamon - Central Jerusalem) - This will be rerouted in the city centre.
Route 13a (Givaatt Mashoar - Har Herzl) - This will be a new bus line.
Route 14 (Malha - Central Bus Station) - This will be a new bus line.
Route 16 (Bayit V'Gan - Har Hozim) - The bus route will change slightly.
Route 18 (Malha Train Station - Central Bus Station) - The bus route will no longer include Kiryat Yovel.
Route 20 (Givaatt Mashoar - Har Herzl) - This will connect to Mount Herzl Light Rail Station.
Route 21 (Ramat Sharet - Talpiot Industrial Zone) - This will connect the two Light Rail Stations.
Route 23 (Science and Arts Institute - Mount Herzl) - This will be a new short route.
Route 24 (Stern - Mount Herzl) - This will follow the old Route 18 to Mount Herzl Station.
Route 24a (Malha Train Station - Mount Herzl) - This will be a new short route.
Route 26 (Stern - Mount Herzl) - A new short route.
Route 27 and 27a (Hadassah Ein Kerem/Even Saphir - Mount Herzl) - These will be new short routes.
Route 28 (Shachrai Street - Ein Karem) - This will be slightly rerouted to connect to a Light Rail Station Yaffa Nof.
Route 29 - This will be replace Route 54.
Route 33 (Glia - Har Nof) - This will be slightly rerouted to the Yaffa Nof Light Rail Station.
Route 39 and 39a (Bayit V'Gan - Har Hozvim) - This will be slightly rerouted to the Yaffa Nof Light Rail Station.
Route 40 - This will replace Route 36.
Route 49a - This will replace Route 59.
Route 50 Beit Hakerem) - The bus line around Beit Hakerem will be slightly changed.
Route 69 ( Mount Scopus - Central Bus Station - Givat Ram) - This will be a new bus line servicing Ammunition Hill Light Rail Station.
Route 150 (Aminadab - Aora - Mount Herzl) - This will be a shorterned route.

Tender Published for Tel Aviv Light Railway Tunnels

2012-01-12T12:22:00.000+02:00

NTA - Metropolitan Mass Transit Ltd has today published the tender for the digging of tunnels for the two lines of the Tel Aviv Light Railway.

The tendering process is due to close on 27 March 2012, with the total cost of the project expecting to be several billion Shekels, which will require two parallel 11km tunnels and a 4.6km tunnel to be built.

The first Light Rail line in Tel Aviv is due to open in 2017 to be followed in 2020 by a second line.

Rail Workers in Israel again strike over Rail Privatisation - Strike Could Continue Wednesday

2012-01-10T12:34:00.000+02:00

Rail workers in Israel this week restarted their industrial action yesterday in protest at Government plans to privatise Israel Railways. If talks do not progress today it is expected to again hit rail routes tomorrow. This was a continuation of the protest which began last September.

The Government is planning to agree further contracts with Caterpillar and Bombardier for maintenance of railways

New Eye Test for Drivers in Israel and Tender Published for Development of Route 85 in Northern Israel

2012-01-04T23:03:00.000+02:00

New Eye Test for Drivers

A new regulation in Israel came into force this week which requires all drivers over the age of 40 to have a vision test before renewing their driving licence. IsraelTransport reported on the requirement in September 2011.

Tender Published for Development of Route 85 in Northern Israel

The Transport Ministry and the National Roads Authority has this week published a tender for the development of Route 85 in Northern Israel designed to improve connections across the Gaililee and Central Israel.

The estimated cost of the project is Five Hundred Million Shekels.

New Bus Routes in Jerusalem begin tomorrow (Friday 13 January 2012)

2012-01-03T23:42:00.003+02:00

Price of New Car and Public Transport has increased in Israel

2012-01-02T07:22:00.000+02:00

The price of a new car in Israel has increased with the turn of the new year, Globes reports, as due to the weakening of the Israeli Shekel against world currencies, vehicle importers have had to increase the price of a car in order to maintain their profit margins.

The cost of a Mazda 3 or Ford Focus has increased by around 3000 Shekels.

The 1 January 2012 also saw the price of gasoline increase to 7.23 Shekels a litre, while bus and train prices increased by about 3%.

Happy New Year as Israel Transport תחבורה בישראל celebrates 1st Birthday

2011-12-31T22:06:00.000+02:00

Israel Transport תחבורה בישראל would like to wish all its readers a happy new year and to mark it's first birthday.

During the past year has covered all the most important transport news stories in Israel. These have included:

Jerusalem Light Rail

Tel Aviv's new Bike Rental

The Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv Tolled Fast Lane

and many other stories.

Israel Transport תחבורה בישראל hopes you have benefited from the website and the news provided.

If you would like to help support the website please contact us here. The website receives 1000's of views and is a main source of information to residents, tourists, companies and government officials from around the world interested in news about transport in Israel.

Speed Cameras to start in Israel in January

2011-12-31T21:53:00.000+02:00

Following an initial six month delay for the introduction of fixed-position road side speed cameras in Israel, the cameras will begin operating in January, as reported by Globes, to enforce speed limits and traffic lights across Israel.

Israel Transport תחבורה בישראל reported in March 2011 on the plan to install speed cameras along major highways in Israel to cut down on drivers breaking the speed limit and motoring accidents.

Tzipi Hotovely Member of Knesset sits at the front of a bus to protest Segregation of Women in Israel

2011-12-29T12:11:00.000+02:00

Following the recent controversy in Israel regarding the Haredi Community's attempt to force women to sit at the back of buses in Israel, the female Member of Knesset, Tzipi Hotovely, protested these attempts.

The Likud Member of Knesset who is the Chairwoman of the Status of Women Committee, on Thursday morning sat at the front of a bus which the Haredi Community are trying to enforce female segregation, according to the Jerusalem Post.

This followed a further attack against a female solider sitting on a bus on Wednesday.

Will Nevatim host a new International Airport in Israe? Israeli Government helping to cover El Al's security costs and Jacob Bilstein to Head the National Strategy Plan

2011-12-27T12:25:00.000+02:00

Will Nevatim host a new International Airport in Israe?

Israel's Transport Minister Israel Katz is proposing that Israel builds a second international airport in Nevatim in the Negev Desert, according to Ynet. The new airport would be used to support Israel's current international airport Ben Gurion Airport.

Nevatim Airport is currently a Military Airport in the northern Negev 5 miles south-east of Ber Sheva Israel's Cabinet has asked the Transport Minister Israel Katz and Defence Minister Ehud Barak to give their recommendations for whether Nevatim should be converted to an International Airport. It is believed that the surrounding local Government areas support Nevatim becoming an International Airport so help develop the economy of the Negev.

Israeli Government helping to cover El Al's security costs

El Al will be refunded $5.8 million of it's security costs in 2011 by the Israeli Government. The Israeli Government currently covers about 60% of El AL's security costs which will rise to 70% in 2012 and 80% when the European Open-Skies agreement is introduced.

Jacob Bilstein to Head the National Strategy Plan

Jacob Bilstein has been appointed by Israel's Transport Minister, Israel Katz to manage the National Transport Strategy in Israel. The plan aims to build a national network of roads and railways between Kiryat Shemona in Northern Israel and Eilat in Southern Israel at a cost of almost $100 billion.

Israel's 20 Year Vehicle Scrap Car Compensation Plan

2011-12-24T22:29:00.000+02:00

The Israel Transport Ministry will launch a programme on 1 January 2012 where owners of vehicles that are more than twenty years old will be able to turn their car into the Israel Government and received compensation of 3000 Shekels.

The roll out of the national scheme follows a successful two year trial, during which time 18000 vehicles more than 20 years told were returned to the State.

The aim of the project is to reduce heavily polluting vehicles in Israel.

To receive the 3000 Shekels

- Vehicles must be more than 20 years old, from the date of manufacture.
- Have a valid passenger vehicle licence.
- Returned to the State by the Registered Owner

Owners wishing to receive compensation must return a cancellation of registration form to the Licensing Agency and within 48 hours deliver their car to an authorised sites. Following a 45 day identification process the owner will have the 3000 shekels compensated to their account.

Site Name	Web site	Phone	Fax	Address
AA Carr Center Motors	Carr Center Motors Ashdod	08-8524238	08-8524236	Street corner work fig 1, Light Industry Zone, Ashdod - Map

Site Name	Phone	Fax	Address
Hyper passed Ltd.	03-9342023	03-9342022	Nachshon 17 purple industrial zone, Petah Tikva
Taysir Markets Ltd. Company	02-6247548	02-6247561	Airport St. 6. Atarot industrial area of Jerusalem
Haifa dragged Assouline Ltd	04-8424279 04-8416438	04-8411-033	Yosef Basri 30 Kiryat Ata
Mksli Ltd.	04-6800777 04-6931884	04-6931884	Industrial area Hazor

Further details can be found on the Israel Transport Ministry website.

Could Segregated buses make a return in Israel, Eldan to start leasing Better Place Electric Cars in Israel in 2012, Tel Aviv's Rental Bike Service is Succeeding

2011-12-23T05:36:00.000+02:00

Could Segregated buses make a return in Israel?

Israel has this week seen a conflict re-emerge over the issue of female segregation on buses. The sexist policy requiring women to sit at the back of buses on certain routes in Israel was banned earlier this year.

In order to ensure that this law was enforced, campaigns have been carried out to ensure that women can choose to sit where they like on the bus. However, the Haredi Community have hit back demanding the right to operate private bus lines where segregation would be enforced.

Eldan to start leasing Better Place Electric Cars in Israel in 2012

Better Place have signed an agreement with Eldan, Israel's largest rental car company to provide hundreds of Renault Fluence electric cars for the car rental market in Israel. Better Place will also install the car charging operators for Eldan to widen the electric car infrastructure across Israel.

Tel Aviv's Rental Bike Service is Succeeding

Seven months after the launch of the Tel Aviv Bike Rental Scheme, over 13000 people have purchased an annual subscription, with about 5500 bikes being rented every day from the 141 rental stations across Tel Aviv.

It was announced this week that daily and weekly subscriptions would now be offered for casual users of the service.

A daily rental of a bike would be 16 Shekels and a weekly rental would cost 60 Shekels. It will be possible to pay at the rental station by credit card.

An annual subscription is 240 Shekels for residents of Tel Aviv and 280 Shekels for non-residents. An annual subscription can only be purchased at the Tel Aviv Muncipality or on the Tel-O-Fun website.

It is also expected that 50 further rental stations will open in the Tel Aviv suburbs.

Israel to hold a Road Pricing Experiment

2011-11-07T13:12:00.000+02:00

The Transport Ministry and Finance Ministry in Israel yesterday announced that they will hold an experiment to examine the impact of road pricing on drivers.

A tender to find the company responsible for holding the road pricing experiment will be conducted by Derech Eretz.

The experiment will see 1200 drivers volunteer to have their driving habits monitored, including the time and distance travelled, when journeys take place and where. Each driver will be given $500 per year for participation to participate and will be charged for the journeys based on when, where and how far they travel. The aim of the experiment is to see whether the cost of a journey impacts on a driver's behaviour on where and when to drive.

The experiment could possibly lead to road charging schemes in order to reduce congestion levels in Israel.

Public Transport to be hit by General Strike in Israel on Monday and A BBC report on the Jerusalem Light Rail

2011-11-06T12:28:00.000+02:00

A BBC report on the Jerusalem Light Rail

BBC - Jerusalem Light Rail

The BBC has a positive report on the Jerusalem Light Rail and how it benefits the whole population of Jerusalem both Israeli's and Arabs.

Public Transport to be hit by General Strike in Israel on Monday

The General Strike by the National Union tomorrow in Israel could affect all public transport in Israel. The strike is being held to campaign for better rights for contract workers in Israel.

Rav Kav Smart Card have replaced bus tickets

2011-11-03T12:44:00.002+02:00

As previously reported by israeltransport.blogspot.com Egged buses in Israel this week officially replaced the former multi travel 'Kartisiya' and monthly 'Hofshi Hodshi' paper tickets with their new Rav Kav Smart Cards.

As of this week all bus journeys will have to be paid for as a single ticket or using the Rav Kav Smart Card for either multiple journeys or season tickets. Although existing multi travel 'Kartisiya' tickets will be accepted until the end of 2011.

The Rav Kav Smart Card can be received for free at the following places:

- Jerusalem Central Bus Station (opposite platform 22) Sunday to Thursday 7am to 10pm and Friday 7am to 1pm.
- Jerusalem Rav Shefa Mall 2nd Floor , Sunday to Thursday 2pm to 9pm
- Givat Masua Egged Terminal, Sunday to Thursday 7am to 7pm and Friday 7pm to 1pm
-CityPass Light Rail Service Stations

Rav Kav Cards can also be received from:

South & Center
Tel Aviv CBS - Ticket Office (6th floor)	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 \| Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Kfar Saba CBS - Ticket Office	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 \| Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Holon, 4 Weizman St	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 \| Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Holon, Dar Gat Mall	Sun - Thu 08:00- 17:00 \| Fri 08:00 - 13:00
Rishon le-Tsiyon, the old CBS - 63 Herzl St	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 \| Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Rishon le-Tsiyon, the new CBS	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 \| Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Rehovot CBS	Sun - Thu 08:00- 17:00 \| Fri 08:00 - 13:00
Haifa & South
Haifa Merkazit Hof ha-Karmel	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 \| Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Haifa Merkazit ha-Mifratz	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 \| Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Haifa, 8 Hasan Shuqri Str	Sun - Thu 08:00- 17:00 \| Fri 08:00 - 13:00
Haifa, The University of Haifa	Sun - Thu 08:00- 16:00
Karmi'el Terminal	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 \| Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Kiryat Hayim - "Ha-Tzrif" Junction	Sun - Thu 07:00- 19:00 \| Fri 07:00 - 13:00
Kiryat Shmona CBS	Sun - Thu 08:00- 17:00 \| Fri 08:00 - 13:00
Kiryat Shmona, Tel Khai College	Sun - Thu 08:00- 16:00

Once received multi-use tickets and season tickets can be charged to the Rav Kav Smart Card by bus drivers.

Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Railway - Construction Continues

2011-11-02T12:32:00.001+02:00

The Transport Ministry in Israel has provided an updated on the progress being made on the development of Jerusalem's future Inter-City Train Station. As the work continues an 80 meter underground shaft has been dug.

In addition work will begin in 2 months on the construction of an 11.5 km underground tunnel after two international mining machines have arrived in Israel.

Video explanation of the building of the tunnels in Jerusalem for the new Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Railway - Israel National News

The new intercity railway which will see 30 minute train journeys between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem has been a priority of the Transport Minister, Israel Katz.

The railway line which will be 56 miles in will include 5 tunnels and 10 bridges, will cost $7 billion to construct and is expected to be completed by 2017.

Car Drivers are Reminded to turn on their lights

2011-11-01T12:14:00.000+02:00

Car drivers in Israel are reminded to use their external lights at all times of the day when travelling on intercity roads during the winter months until 31 March 2011.

The fine for driving without lights on is 100 dollars plus two penalty points.

Timetable Changes on Israel's Railways in November and Jerusalem Light Rail - A review

2011-10-31T12:17:00.000+02:00

Timetable Changes on Israel's Railways in November

Israel Railways have announced the following cancellations to routes during November.

The Akko to Nahariyya Line will be closed between 1 November and 18 November and replaced with a free bus shuttle.

On Friday 4 November there will be no service between Haifa and Nahariyya with regular bus services being available instead.

Between 7 November and 20 December there will be no services between Rishon Le Zion and Lod to be replaced by a shuttle bus.

Jerusalem Light Rail - A review
Oren Hirsch the creator of the unofficial Jerusalem Bus Map has published an optimistic review of the initial months of the Jerusalem Light Rail.

El AL to charge $70 for second suitcase, Airport Crash Averted at Ben Gurion Airport, A view on the Jerusalem Light Rail

2011-10-04T13:03:00.000+02:00

El AL to charge $70 for second suitcase

El Al have announced have announced that from 1 November 2011 they will started charging $70 for the second suitcase checked in for economy seat/coach passengers on flights to and from Israel.

Airport Crash Averted at Ben Gurion Airport

Air Traffic controllers at Ben Gurion Airport narrolwy avoided a crash on Monday betwen an Israir plane and and Ukrainian aircraft. Both pilots thought they had been given permission to head to the runway to begin take-off at the same time, before airline controllers realised the mistake an ensured an orderly take-off.

Flight safety issuers have previously been a concern at Ben Gurion Airport and the airport safety status for Ben Gurion Airport was downgraded last year.

A view on the Jerusalem Light Rail

The Jerusalem Post today has a column on the new light rail and how it is working well. What do you think?

Tender opens to provide bus services in Modiin, Modiin Illit and Ramle

2011-10-03T12:28:00.000+02:00

The Ministry of Transport in Israel has issued a new tender to operate public transport services in Modiin, Modiin Illit and Ramle.

Currently 340,000 passengers use the existing public transport services within and around Modiin each week and includes approximately 350 bus routes, which are currently provided by Superbus and Connex/Veolia.